he had something useful to say for once in his pathetic life.
I should’ve known better.
Standing so fast my chair slammed into the wall behind me, I put my palms flat on my desk. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to, but I’d reconsider your insinuation.”
“No, no. There’s no insinuation,” he backpedaled. “I’m just bringing up my concern so you can keep an ear out in case anyone has seen her.”
Liar.
Still glaring at him, my voice was even. “If you ever cross me again, I’ll make you pay. I don’t give a shit how noble you think your reasoning is, I’ll make you wish for death.”
“It’ll never happen again.”
My cell rang, but I didn’t look as I hit ignore. “And if you ever come into my office and even hint at an accusation, I’ll cut your tongue out and feed it to you. Are we clear?”
Before he could respond, Ash stuck his head into my office. “Answer your phone.”
As he spoke, it started ringing again.
Picking it up, I saw it was Cole and connected the call. “Yeah?”
“She’s gone.”
My gut clenched. “What did you say?”
“She ran outside, cameras showed her heading east.”
I kept my cool, but just barely. I wanted to shove my phone down Mugsy’s throat to kill two pains in my ass at once.
“I’ll call you back.” I gave Mugsy my attention, needing him gone. “Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” he choked out.
“Get the fuck out of my office.”
He jumped up, and sure enough, a slick of back sweat clung to the chair.
Marco was waiting to escort our unwanted guest out.
Ash came in. “I’ll go—”
But I was already up and grabbing my shit.
Ash and I walked from my office as Marco and Carmichael boarded the public elevator. I scanned my thumb at my private one.
Once we were inside, I called Cole back. “How the hell did she get out?”
“She was screaming about her stomach hurting and said she needed help.”
“And so you opened the door and let her go?” I growled.
“No, I went to check on her and… Marco was right, she’s fast. She dodged me and locked me in. I had to call Freddy to let me out.”
“Fucking hell.”
That Juliet had kicked Marco’s ass at her house and then not only dodged Cole but locked him in the room was amusing. Or it would’ve been, had worry not sat heavy in my gut.
I should’ve been worried about myself since I’d added kidnapping to the murder she could pin on me.
But my concern was solely for Juliet.
My house was secluded, surrounded by nothing for miles. Going left she’d have some shade from boulders, brush, or Joshua trees, but there were no marked trails or paths to guide her. There were, however, coyotes, rattlesnakes, and the occasional scorpion.
“I’m on my way. Start searching,” I said before hanging up.
I’d known her shy mouse act was just that—an act. I’d been waiting for her to try to make an escape or take revenge.
But her timing and sense of self-preservation were shit.
If I hadn’t left the house.
If I hadn’t turned off the monitors to deal with that dickhead.
If I hadn’t taken her in the first damn place.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Predator
Juliet
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
I had no clue what time it was, but it was late.
And dark.
And cold.
And scary as fuck.
The patch of desert was not a patch. Nor was it a plot. It was never-ending—just desert followed by more desert surrounded by more desert.
My body ached to the bones, far beyond any exhaustion and soreness I’d ever experienced. Every step I forced wore on me like a mile. Even though I’d taken advantage of every hint of shade I’d come across, my skin was tight and painfully sunburned. And I was thirsty. So thirsty.
I wanted to go back.
But I kept moving because I had to run into civilization eventually.
I hoped.
Unable to see where I was going, my foot caught on a jagged rock. I tumbled forward, but my shoe was stuck, making my ankle twist painfully as I fell.
“Shit,” I hissed, tears of pain and frustration burning my eyes. “Ow, ow, ow.”
My shoe ripped and excruciating pain tore at my ankle, making me wonder if I’d broken it.
Using a boulder, I was able to stand, but as soon as I put weight on my foot, pain ripped up my leg and it gave out.
Left prone on the ground, the enormity of how badly I’d fucked up sank in. I was alone. No phone. No weapon. No food. Although I’d sipped at my water, it